Although EMI has two “superstar” Beethoven Triple Concerto recordings to its credit (Oistrakh/Rostropovich/Richter and Perlman/Ma/Barenboim), I don’t necessarily prefer them to the label’s less-celebrated (and surely less-promoted) Hoelscher/Schiff/Zacharias edition, first released in 1984 and reissued here at budget price. Collectively and individually the soloists bring dazzling effervescence and symmetry to their contributions, in contrast to Barenboim and company’s angular spontaneity. Schiff particularly impresses with his deft bow arm and faultless intonation as he tosses off the finale’s more impossible runs. Kurt Masur provides as centered and sympathetic an orchestral framework as he did for the Beaux Arts Trio on Philips.
In the Third Concerto, some may find Zacharias’ fleet, rippling elegance and immaculate surface polish to be overly slick and facile, lacking the inner tension and forceful accentuations of a Brendel, Perahia, Fleisher, or Annie Fischer. The latter qualities, however, inform Hans Vonk’s stylish conducting and the Dresden Staatskapelle’s corpulent yet lithe sound world. Get this mainly for the Triple Concerto.
